Firewalls

Bucheri McCarty & Metz LLP
Certified Public Accountants
and Consultants

Report:
Firewall Considerations

Now that DSL is right around the corner, don't be fooled into thinking you can set up an inexpensive high-speed connection to the internet and then you're done. It is not as simple as that.

Don't get us wrong . . . DSL is a cost effective connectivity tool that will allow users on your network to share an internet connection. For the price, the speeds are fantastic! We recommend DSL to most of our clients.

But don't leap into DSL without considering all the ramifications. Because BM&M is a little more objective than the ISP or phone company who just wants to "sell pipe," we can afford to spell out the issues related to broad band, shared internet access.

And this starts with your firewall.

Do you lock your doors before you leave the office?
You need firewall protection. Even if you feel your corporate data is not that valuable, don't fool yourself. Offices without a front door are inviting vandals to come in and look around, possibly to destroy or steal valuables.

The same with your company network. You need to at least have a door, and probably a lock, possibly a deadbolt. And many of you are also going to need a security system that will monitor access to your network.

What kind of firewall will I need?
Like anything else in Information Technology, there are many different types of firewalls, and by the time you finish your first phone call on the subject, you are going to be confused. That's the nature of the game.

BM&M would be happy to help you select the firewall protection most suitable for your business. When we consult with you, we'll be asking questions similar to the following:

Who will be administering your firewall? What level of technical knowledge does that person have?

How important are your security needs?

	How valuable is your data?
	Who else might want access to your data?
	What would they sacrifice to get your data?
	How computer literate are your ex-employees?

What other "Internet Services" do you need now and in the future? (Some firewall systems provide other services)

Do you already have an internal e-mail system, or should you create one?

Do you want shared Internet access for the users on your network (usually the answer to this is yes).

What restrictions would you put on that access?

	Who on your network do you want to prohibit access to the Internet?
	Are there websites you would want to restrict?
	Are there certain times you would want to restrict access to certain types of internet sites?

Do you have a web site?

How much are you paying to host your site? How many hits are you experiencing daily? Would it be more cost effective to move this in-house?

Will you be sharing data with users outside your local area network on a regular basis?

If you do not currently have remote access to your network, would now be a time to install it?

Are you currently providing remote access to your network?

	If so, what type of configuration are you currently deploying?
	What are the costs associated with this access? Do you access the network via long distance? ISDN?
	Is the speed during this access satisfactory?

As you can see, there are many questions that need to be answered before selecting a firewall. BM&M has employed professionals who have been working with DSL since 1998. We'd be happy to assist you in this very important decision.

Other Reports

Banking Issues

Data Warehousing

DSL - The Next Wave in Kokomo Connectivity!

Fax Servers

Information Architecture

Lock the Doors

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Last Modified: 12/08/04